Raven Song (Inoki’s Game #1)

Raven Song (Inoki’s Game #1)

AUTHOR: I.A. Ashcroft
GENRE: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Raven Song is the first of a four book adult-oriented dystopian fantasy series, a story of intrigue, love, violence, and the old spirits in the shadows who wait for us to notice them again. Readers of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, and Charlie Human will enjoy this dark magic-laced tale rooted on the bones of what our world could become.

A century ago, the world burned. Even now, though rebuilt and defiant, civilization is still choking on the ashes.

Jackson, a smuggler, lives in the shadows, once a boy with no memory, no name, and no future. Ravens followed him, long-extinct birds only he could see, and nightmares flew in their wake. Once, Jackson thought himself to be one of the lucky few touched by magic, a candidate for the Order of Mages. He is a man now, and that dream has died. But, the ravens still follow. The nightmares still whisper in his ear.

Anna’s life was under the sun, her future bright, her scientific work promising. She knew nothing of The Bombings, the poisoned world, or the occult. One day, she went to work, and the next, she awoke in a box over a hundred years in the future, screaming, fighting to breathe, and looking up into the eyes of a smuggler. Anna fears she’s gone crazy, unable to fill the massive hole in her memories, and terrified of the strange abilities she now possesses.

The Coalition government has turned its watchful eyes towards them. The secret factions of the city move to collect them first. And, old gods stir in the darkness, shifting their pawns on the playing field.

If Anna and Jackson wish to stay free, they must learn what they are and why they exist.

Unfortunately, even if they do, it may be too late.

Raven Song is the first of a four book adult-oriented dystopian fantasy series, a story of intrigue, love, violence, and the old spirits in the shadows who wait for us to notice them again. Readers of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, and Charlie Human will enjoy this dark magic-laced tale rooted on the bones of what our world could become.

REVIEW:

RATING: 4/5

It starts off okay. Took me a while to get into the book. The first half of the book is setting up the background. As the second half starts (or the half of the second half) it gets really interesting. The tension, the revelation, the action. All in the second half. It’s a really good half.
One good thing is that there was no romance. Tired of reading Dystopias with romance. From how it ended, I think there might be some (or a lot) in the sequel.

Now let’s talk about the powers….
So there is Shadow manipulation, Flying, Glowing, Teleportation…. I would have expected the main character to have powers like super-strength, flying, fire manipulation and the like. Not Shadow manipulation. It’s good that the author didn’t go with common powers for the main.

Overall, the book is great. Even if a little late, it does come through.